Collating machine



Feb. 20, 1951 c. L. LElFr-:R 2,542,089

coLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug. so, 194e 12 sheets-sheet 1 lll I @Meu-'s L. Elf-5.a

Feb. 20, 1951l c, L, LEu-ER 2,542,089

COLLATING lMACHINE Filed Aug. so, 194e '12 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1951 c. 1 LElFE-R 2,542,089

COLLATING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Shree?I 3 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 meufs L. E/Ffe,

fm/ewor.

Feb. 20, 1951 Q LEU-'ER 2,542,089

coLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug. so, 194e 12 Sheets-sheet 4 @W v v Aorney 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 c. l LEIFER COLLATING MACHINE 1 llllllllf llilllinllil- Inventor.

tomey CHARLES L. LE/FEe,

Feb. 20, 1951 c. l.. LEU-'ER 2,542,089

COLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1946 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 fpm,

las

LEF

JJ. Cil/L55 L. LE/FEE,

' Inventor:

- #ttor/ref Feb. 20, 1951 c. 1 LEU-ER COLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 50, 1946 12 sheets-sheet '7 Haags L. LE/FEE,

lime/Wr.

Mor/rey Feb. 20, 1951 l c. L. LEu-ER COLLATING MACHIE 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 3o, 1946 CBL/Aufs LE/FEB Ihre/:tor: @www 41 or/wy 17a -f O Feb. 20, 1951 c. LEIFER coLLATING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 (H4/e455 L. Effe/e,

jn/e/r for Feb. 20, 1951 c. l.. LEIFER 2,542,089

COLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1946 I 12 Sheets-Sheet '10 Q' a A i CHABLES L. Lg/Fge,

Inventor.

Feb. ZO, 1951 c. l.. LEIFER COLLATING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 Osa/afs L. LE/FE/e.

INVENTOR #fa/wey Feb. 20, 1951 c. l.. LEU-'ER COLLATING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 NWN www

Patentecl Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED stares ATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to collating machines and moreparticularly to the type wherein from a plurality of pilesA of sheets of paper or the like, individual sheets therefrom are arranged in predetermined sequence in superposed relation to form a set, and wherein a plurality of such sets are arranged in superposed relation to form a single pile.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved collating machine of the character mentioned, wherein transportation of the individual sheets to form sets, and transportation of such sets to form a single pile, is accomplished principally by pneumatically operated devices; affording easy functional adjustment and exceptional spe'ed and economy of operation.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved collating machine of the type described, wherein the sheets next to be transported to set formingy position, are automatically maintained in a predetermined plane to insure their proper reception by the sheet transporting means.

A further' object of this invention is to provide a ncvei and improved collating machine of the type mentioned, wherein the individual sets of sheets are' built up by a novel and improved procedure.

Another object hereof is to provide a collating machine of the kind set forth, of novel and improved construction wherein sheet positioning and aligning is accomplished and in several instances aided by means having a novel mode of operation.

Another ohiect of the present invention is to provide a collating.,r machine of the character described, of novel and improved construction,

wherein at predetermined intervals in the iinal pile, are sheets oi cardboard; thus facilitating pad manufacture. Also if desired, the frequency of cardboard sheet occurence in said final pile is adjustable, so that for instance in the final pile, tiere are 25, o, '75 or say 100 sets of paper sheets above each cardboard sheet.

A further object hereof is to provide a novel and improved collating machine wherein by simple adjustment, it is made adaptable for building single pile of identical sets of sheets; each set no" rising any predetermined number of sheets within the maximum capacity of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ^l and improved collating machine of the type cribed, wherein each ofthe sheet transporting ices independently adjustable to operate uve-ly wl`r ere the sheets comprising' the initial are of d'iiierent nature respectively, as for '..istance cardboard, 20 lb. paper, carbon paper, sheets of tissue paper and so on.

Still a further object hereof is to provide a collating machine of the character mentioned which is fully automatic in its operation and efcient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, similar charactersy of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. i is diagrammatic View of a Icollating machine embodying the teachings of this inven- This View is shown partly in section and ff ,h various components omitted to attain clarity oi illustration. This chosen embodiment includes a six bin structure along which is an intermittently moving conveyor belt. Each bin has a platform therein to hold a pile of sheets thereon; piatforms being independently adapted to move upward automatically to maintain the respective top sheets of the paper piles at a required level. Sheet transporting means carry individual cet-s from the respective piles onto the conveyor belt and collation of said sheets is effected as hereinafter explained. Also provided are means to carry the sets of collated sheets from on the conve-yor belt to a single nal pile. Vario-us other mechanisms are provided, as for instance a jogger means to effect a proper nal pile and a means to lower the final pile platform as the pile thereon grows. All mechanism mentioned are shown in this view in accordance with the practice of this invention, as well as other means to be described. The six bin structure here shown, is to be deemed a mere example, for machines having any practical number of bins may be constructed' as requirements may dictate.

2 is a top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken at line 3-3 in Fig. 1, showing in particular the interior of a bin, the conveyor belt which is to receive sheets thereon from the pile resting on the platform Within said bin, and the means for transporting the top sheet oi the bin pile onto said. conveyor belt. Various associated mechanisms and components are also shown and will be explained in this specification.

Fig. is a fragmentary section taken at line i-li in Fig. 3, showing part of the means used to accomplish the automatic raising of the bin platform.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of any of the bin platforms and particularly shows another part of the automatic platform-raising means as Well as means to manually move the platform.

Fig. 6 shows a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit which may be employed for control and operation of the platform raising devices of the entire machine.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view through a solenoidcontrolled valve associated with a double acting air cylinder having a slidable piston therein, the motion of which is used to operate various parts of this machine which require a reciprocatory motion, as for instance the means used herein to transport sheets from the bins onto the delivery belt, the means employed to carryk a pile of collated sheets from oif the delivery belt onto the nal pile, and others as hereinafter described. This view shows one type of such valve, with its components in position to allow a supply of compressed air to be fed to the underside of the piston in the air cylinder.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing valve components in position they assume upon .actuation of the solenoid. Here, compressed air is allowed to flow against the face of the piston in the air cylinder. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical wiring diagram and the timer means used herein for the control and operation of the various solenoid-operated valves included in this embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic View of the piping system for the various means employing air to function or operate, included in this embodiment.

Fig. 1l is a top View of a form of valve and associated operating means 'which may be used when it is desired for instance to interpose a cardboard sheet to be positioned at predetermined positions in the final pile, lets say every one hundred or every fty sets of collated sheets, for example. Such means includes a ratchet and pawl here shown in position where the pawl commences engagement of the ratchet wheel.

Fig. l2 is a similar view showing the position of the various components where the pawl has completed turning the ratchet wheel a predetermined amounty and said pawl is ready to be returned to initial position.

Fig. 13 is a partial sectional view taken at 'line l3-|3 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows a fragmentary view of the piping system illustrated in Fig. 10, with the valve of Fig. 11 interposed therein.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary View showing part of Fig. 1, and particularly showing a portion of the deivery carriage which transports piles of collated sheets from olf the delivery belt to the final pile.

Fig. 16 is a top view of Fig. 15.

Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged View of part of Fig. 15, showing in particular the fingers and associated operating means therefor, on the delivery carriage, which fingers receive a pile of collated sheets from the delivery belt, after such pile is completed and upon ensuing movement of said delivery belt which carries said pile of collated sheets to said fingers. The lingers are here shown closed or in gripping position.

Fig. 18 is a similar view showing said fingers in open position, which they assume upon movement of the carriage away from the delivery belt and over an opening in the delivery table, at which place the pile of collated sheets said Yfingers have held and transported, are let drop manually raising or lowering the final pile platform.

Fig. 20, is an enlarged fragmentary perspec tive view of associated jogger components.

Fig. 2l, is a View akin to Fig. 3, and shows diagrammatically a modified embodiment where from off two sheet piles, resting on separate platforms which are one over the other in a bin, the top sheets are transported by means shown here, to lie in register on the delivery belt. This structure may be employed as to one or more bins of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic front view of the bin structure provided with a modified embodiment of the means used to impart the required movement for the individual-sheet transporting means.

Fig. 23 is a View akin to Fig. 3, and is a partial section taken at line 23-23 in Fig. 22.

In the drawings, showing a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numerals 3G and 3l (see Fig. 3) indicate plates which serve as the floor and ceiling respectively of that part of the machine usually referred to as the bins. In each such bin, is a horizontally positioned platform 32, loosely mounted for vertical movement along the stationary, vertically positioned screw shafts 33, whose ends are secured to said oor and ceiling plates in any suitable manner. The bins being shown in tandem, platforms 32 may be rectangular with a screw shaft 33 through each vertex region respectively. Each platform 32 will therefore ride along a group of four screw shafts 33.

Mechanism (see Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6) associated with each of the platforms 32 being identical, description therefor as to one, shall be deemed to apply to all.

Every screw shaft 33, (see Figs. 3 and 5) carries revolvably threadedly engaged thereon, a sprocket 35, positioned immediately below the platform 32, so as to act as a rest therefor. On the underside of platform 32, is a revolvably mounted shaft 33, which carries thereon turnable therewith, a sprocket 31 and a gear wheel 33. An endless sprocket chain 39, is engagingly mounted on all the ve sprockets, so that'upon rotary movement of shaft 36, the sprockets 35 will ride along their respective screw shafts 33, whereby platform 32 is raised or lowered in the bin structure which is of an-le iron frame work 43, connecting the floor and ceiling plates 39 and 3l. Cross pieces il of said frame work, may act as stop means to limit the downward movement of the platform 32.

Slidably mounted through the bracket 4Z on the underside of platform 32, is a shaft 6.3 carrying a worm 44 on its inner end and a handwheel 55 on its outer end. A spring 46 on shaft 'i3 between said handwheel and bracket, serves to maintain the worm 44 o-ut of engagement with the gear wheel 38. It is evident that by pushing the handwheel 45, the worm 4 will be brought into engagement with gear wheel 38, whereby platform 32 may be manually moved when required, by turning the handwheel 45. Upon release of hold on said handwheel, action of stressed spring it will shift the worm 44 out of engagement from gear Wheel 38.

At the rear of the machine (see Fig. 3) above the cross pieces 4|, free access is had to load the platform 32, with a pile of sheets laid flat thereon; the forward ed-es of said sheets to be up against a vertically positioned plate @l across the front of the'bins. The upper edge of said plate Ill is suiciently below the ceiling plate 3l, to permit the entry and proper actuation within the bin,

of a sheet transporting means indicated generally by the numeral 48. The vertically positioned bar i9 serves as va :gauge means against'which the side edges of 'the sheets comprising said pile ,are vto rest.

One for each bin, (see Fig. 3) .'atop the ceiling plate 3l, is an air cylinder 50,0f the-:double :action type, extending forwardly `from the rear :of the machine where said cylinder is swingably lmounted at 5i which is a horizontal axis pin 'through the bracket 52. On the forward end of the piston rod or ram 53 cf said air cylinder '50, is rigidly secrred a depending bracket 54, which preferably carries a plurality of sucker cups 55 of rubber or other suitable material, the mouths of whichfcups are co-planar and face downwardly. When said piston rod 55 is furthest within the cylinder 56, said sucker cups 55 are within the bin and intended for contacting the top sheet of the 'pile on the bin platform 32. The top of said pile must be at a level as to permit such contact. Such required level, may be termed bin paper level I-i).

As hereinafter explained, operation of the air cylinders 56, so that their rams 53 travel a complete forward stroke, is intended to cause Ythe transportation of the top sheets oif allpiles on the bin platforms 32, onto a delivery platform, which in. the embodiment shown (see Figs. l and 3) is an endless belt 56, mounted on the pulleys 5l and which pulleys are on the horizontal shafts 55 and il respectively; said belt being positioned in front of and spanning all of the bins. .It is advisable that the level of the top surface of the belt 55, be substantially at bin paper level.

To maintain the position of the bin paper piles so that the top sheet of each of said piles is in a plane within the range of lifting power of the sucker cups 55, the position of the respective platforms 32 along the vertical, is automatically controlled by a means now to be described, associated with each of the platforms 32.

On the underside of platform 32 (see Fig. .5), is also mounted a solenoid 6I, whose .slidable armature 62, pivotally carries a pawl 63 at 64, for engagement with any suitable pin gear or the usual ratchet wheel 65, secured on shaft 36. The numeral 66 designates a spring acting against pawl 63. When the coil of solenoid 6! is energizedA its armature 62 is adapted to move in a direction whereby pawl 63 will engage gear 65 to slishtly turn shaft 36. Upon deactivating the solenoid 6l, a spring 61 will cause the return of said armature to initial rest position. The direction of rotation of shaft 36 effected by said pawl operation, is such as will move sprockets 35 upwardly on the screw shafts 33, thereby raising platform 32 slightly; the threads of said `screw shafts being fine.

Depending from the ceiling plate 3'! (see Figs. 3 and 4) are the brackets 68 and 69 which `carry a horizontally positioned revolvable shaft lil., having an arm 1! extending radially downwardly therefrom to rest tilted with respect lto `the vertical, ratop the bin sheet pile. `Said shaft 'l0 also carries an element l2 radially therefrom, adapted to close a micro-switch 13 due Vto rotary movement of shaft 1li, when the feeler arm .'ll moves slightly towards the vertical due to the lowering of the level of the bin sheet pile by a sheet or two or other predetermined number, in excess of which the top sheet of such pile would be out of lifting range of the sucker cups 55. A Vsecond microswitch 'i4 which is on the underside of platform 32, is normally in closed condition when the mounted on ceiling plate 13i.

solenoid 62| is inactive, :but opens' upon completion of the engagement action of pawl 63 on gear V6.5. The switches 13 and 'I4 (see Fig. 6) and the 4coil of solenoid 6I are connected in electrical series in a circuit .including a source of electrical energy 15.

When the bin sheet pile is at the required b'in paper level, feeler :arm 1I will be in such position that vswitch 13 is in yopen condition. As soon however as the level of said sheet pile has fallen a predetermined number of sheets, said feeler arm 1l will have swung sufliciently due to the action of 'gravity to -cause shaft 16 to turn a bit so that element 'l2 will cause the closing of switch l13, whereupon the solenoid 6l is actuated and platform 32 slightly raised as explained; switch 14 being now .in open condition, the solenoid coil is deenergized and armature 62 will return to initial rest position due to action of spring 6l, whereupon said switch 14 will again resume its closed condition. If switch T3 is still closed at this time, the action will be repeated until bin paper level is restored, that is until the feeler arm is again in such tilted position whereby switch 73 is open.

To insure the removal of but a single sheet at a time from off the bin paper pile by the sucker cups '(see Figs. 1 and 3), a plurality of nozzles .'16 are provided, positioned through plate 41, at and along bin paper level. Also, springy stripper fingers mounted on said plate 4'! and extending slightly inwardly over the pin paper level, are there to cause edge Contact interception of the uppermost sheets of lthe bin sheet pile. The inclusion of such nozzles 76 and fingers l1, require that the top edge of plate il be above the bin paper level and hence necessitates the lifting and lowering of the sucker cups bracket 54, which movement is accomplished by means of cams I8 on the shafts 19 and 80; one such cam controlling the swinging of an air cylinder 56 about pivotal connection 5l. These cam shafts 'F9 and 8i) (see Figs. 1 and 2) carry respectively the gears 8l and 82, which are in engagement with rack 8S on ram of an `air cylinder 84 of the double action type, Upon operation of said air cylinder 8'4, the cam shafts i9 and 8! will oscillate, causing the air cylinders 56 to be lifted and lowered, and consequently the sucker cups 55 will have similar movement, which will be timed so that said cups clear the top edge of the plate 41 as is required of them in their travel. Of course all functions of said plate 4'! may be by other ysuitable structural means attached to and properly deemed as part of the bin framework.

The belt 56, has imparted to it an intermittent movement whereby sheets deposited thereon are brought towards the stacking and delivery table indicated generally by the numeral 85. Such belt movement (see Fig. 1) is accomplished by means of a double acting air cylinder 66, having a rack ram 81, vand pivotally mounted at 86 onto a fixed .bracket 89. A turnable mounted shaft 36, carries thereon a triple sprocket |64, the first of which with the sprocket 6.9 on shaft 59, ca-rryin engage.- ment the endless sprocket chain belt 32. The second of said sprockets together with a sprocket 93 on shaft 6D, carry the belt 94, and the third, together with the sprocket 95 on shaft 66, carry the endless belt 9i. Shaft 96 is on a fixed bracket 98. Shaft .96 .also carries secured thereon a gear 99, adapted for engagement with rack 5l, when .cylinder 86 is swung and maintained upwardly at a predetermined level by a double acting air cylinder or a pneumatically operated jack |56. A Spring 10| .serves to maintain the cylinder 86 downward, when rack 81 is to be out of engagement with gear 99, when the pack head |92 'is downward.

It is to be noted (see Figs. 3 and 5) that all sheets of all the bin sheet piles are of identical size; adjustment for sheet size being made by adjusting the position of the bars 49, provision for which is not shown. Also, the positions on the belt 56, (see Fig. 2) where sheets from the bins are transported thereon, shall be such that the sheets from the respective bins lie equispaced on said delivery belt 55, so that upon the periodic advance of said belt, sheets forthcoming from the bins, shall be deposited directly atop already deposited sheets at the respective depositing positions on said belt. The machine is so dimensioned as to effect these conditions.

As the belt 56 progresses along the bins, equispaced sets of sheets are formed thereon. Finally each such set of sheets is carried from the belt 55, by fingers 95 and H15, (see Fig. 16) which are on a carriage |93, (see Fig. l) and let fall through a jogging device |97, (see Fig. 19) and onto a platform |98 (see Fig. l) provided vvith pulley wheels |29, swivelled to the underside of said platform. Movement of the carriage i is accomplished by operation of a double action air cylinder |99 mounted on brackets lill and iii extending from the ceiling plate Si; said carriage 93 being secured to the ram H2 of air cylinder |59, and riding on wheels 2li?, along rails 2l i.

Solenoid operated valves which may be of the type illustrated in Fig. 7, are utilized to control the operation of the cylinders 59, 534, Sli, Ii and its, in a piping system as for example is shown in Fig. 10, and solenoid operation, time controlled by an electro-mechanical system as for example illustrated in Fig. 9. These systems are of course suggestive, and are to be modined depending upon the number of bins any machine in accordance with this invention is made to include. These systems particularly herein described show one way for controlling a six bin machine, which is the chosen embodiment of this invention set forth in this application.

In the valve device shown, (see Figs. '7 and 8) |53 is its casing having an inlet port IM for compressed air to be fed cylinder H5, which cylinder and its associated piston H is similar to any herein mentioned. The numeral i3 indicates the exhaust port, the numerals Il? and l i9 designate the ports to be connected by piping |29 and |2 to the respective ends of the air cylinder H5, and |22 is the slidable piston valve member, having the port controlling members |23 and |24. Said piston i22 is attached to the armature i25 of the solenoid |26, of which |2l is the coil to be electrically energized.

With components in position as shown in Fig. 7, compressed air entering through the inlet port l |53, will pass through port i Il, and then through pipe |2| ,into cylinder i5 to act against .the piston iii'i, causing same to move up to cylinder port |29; the solenoid |26 being de-energized. During such piston movement, any air within the cylnder will be forced out through pipe |20, into the valve casing il and out through the exhaust port Hi8. Now, upon energizing the coil |21 of the solenoid, armature |25V and hence the valve piston |22 will be moved to position shown in Fig. 8. With components now in position as shown in said latter figure, compressed air entering through the inlet port will pass through port H9, and then through pipe |20 into the cylinder H5 to act against the other side of piston Ht, causing same to move to cylinder port |29. During such movement, any air formerly within the cylinder ||5, will be forced out through pipe |2 l, into the valve casing I3 and out through the exhaust port H9. Solenoid coil |41 is now de-energized and the cycle repeated to obtain continuous reciprocation of the piston I6.

Of course, operation of cylinder 85 (see Fig. 1) to move the delivery belt 55 one bin position, occurs after a sheet from each of the bin sheet piles has been deposited on said belt. For eoient working, the cylinders 59 (see Fig. 3) are identically operated simultaneously. To adapt the machine so that any desired number of bins may be workedf separate cylinders 59 for each bin are provided. It is of course evident that Where selectivity as to capacity is not required, as where a machine is always to have a single number oi bins, one or any number of cylinders may be employed to operate the sheet transporting apparatus which deposits sheets onto the delivery belt 5%.

In the piping system shown in l0, the rear ends of all the air cylinders 5t, are connected to a pipe or tube E29 by the tubing or hose |39, while the forward ends of said air cylinders are connected to a pipe or tube 31 by the tubing E32. Hose |29 is connected to port H9, and hose i3d is connected to port iii of a solenoid operated valve of the type described and designated generally by the numeral |33. In the arrangement spec`fcally illustrated, handset valves i3d, 35, E38 and it? may be included or interposed Where shown, to enable choosing which ci the air cylinders 5t shall be operated. When valves E34 are set closed, the air cylinder 5i) at the cxtreme left is maintained inactive. When valves lili are set closed, the air cylinder 59 at the extreme right is maintained inactive. When valves L35 are set closed, the two air cylinders 59 at the extreme left are maintained inactive, and when valves i are set closed, the two air cylinders at the extreme right are maintained inactive. Since collating of two sheets is the minimum the machine is called upon to perform, the middle two air cylinders 5i) are shown connected for operation. The air cylinders 84, 86, |99 and M9, are respectively controlled by the solenoid controlled lvalves |38, |39, |68 and i4! respectively. All the exhaust ports of all valves |33, E38, |39, it@ and iii are connected to a common hose or pipe line M2, which leads to an overhead pipe |133, having the downwardly discharging nozzles |59, all along its length over the delivery belt and the stacking and delivery table 85. Also pipe line 42 is connected to the plurality of blower nozzles 16, and to the blower nozzles |53 for issuing an air gust between the logger plates M5, ist and 47. The intake ports of all the solenoid controlled valves 38, 39, lli-, ili and 33 are connected to a supply of compressed air 49. The hose |46 leading from the sucker cups 55, are all connected to a hose line |5| from and into cylinder. discharge port of a solenoid controlled valve iii which is of the type described herein. The exhaust port of such valve |52 leads to the intake port of an air compressor ISB which may be used to furnish the supply to Hi8.

The solenoidrcoils (see Fig. 9) of all the valves |33, |33, |39, |43, IM and |52, are in electrical parallel connection in a circuit energized by an electrical energy source |53. In series electrical connection with each of said respective coils is a button switch for instance, in each coil branch of said circuit. It is evident that switch |33 is for the control of the solenoid of valve |33, and each of the other switches respectively numbered prime is for the control of the respective solenoid controlled valves of similar number Without the prime.

A timer mechanism (see Fig. 9) indicated generally by the numeral |754 for controlling switch operation, consists for example, of a shaft |55 turned by motor |56. Said shaft carries an individual cam for co-operation with said button switches, respectively. The respective cams bear designating numerals each double prime to correspond to the numerals designating their related sivitches. Said plurality of. cams are so designed and relatively positioned on shaft |55 as to accomplish operation o f the several air cylinders in proper timed relation and direction of piston movement as is necessary, by proper timed control of solenoid operation.4

This machine can be adapted to deposit a cardboard sheet between a predetermined number of sets of collated paper sheets, with provision, if desired, to change such number by means'of a simple adjustment, to facilitate the manufacture of pads of collated sheets. For suchfunction, in pipe line |30 which is connectedto the rear end of air cylinder 50, at the extreme left of Fig. l, is interposed a valve means indicated geenrally by the numeral |51.v U

Referring to Fig. 13, said Valve means |51, comprises a disc rotor Vmember |58, Ahaving an opening |59 through its body. Said rotor member is rotatably mounted in a valvev casing |60 between the walls l! and |62', having the holes or openings |53 and 54 therethrough respectively in register. Rotation yofI disc |58, bringsr its opening |59 in register with both'the'ope'nings |83 and |84, bringing saisyalve- |51'into open condition. Openings |63 and |54 are communi#- cative with the valve ports |65 and |66 respectively, for connection withinhose |30 of said iirst air cylinder`50at the left ofthe machine. VThe rotorshaft |01 of this valve (see Figs. `5, 11 and l2), carries a handle |68 and a ratchet wheel |59, whose associated pawl'l10 is pivot,- ally carried on a collar |1| at |12'.A The position of this collary along shaft |13, is adjustable by means of a set screw`i'14'. lShaft or rod |'13jisy slidably mounted through xed'brackets |15 and |16, and is reciprocated by a crank |11 on, or

driven from the cam shaft |19, through a connecting rod 18. A blade spring on collar `|1`|,

numbered |19, serves to vpress thepawl |10 towards the ratchet` wheel |09, whilel pin |80, extending from the pawl is adapted' to'be engaged cam-like by the fixed member |8|, whereby pawl |19 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel |59, though rod |13 continues motion before reversal of its direction. Adjustment of initial position of collar |1| along rod |13, will determine the number of teeth the ratchet wheel A|69 is advanced per stroke of rod |143, which in turn is determined by operation of cam shaft 19, and that would mean that ratchet wheel |09 is ad,- vanced a fixed amount, each time a sheet from a particular bin pile is transported and laid on the delivery belt 58. Said valve means |51 and its actuating mechanism associated therewith, are positioned atop ceiling plate 3|, if desired.,y

As the conveyor belt 55 moves (see Figs. 15 and 16), the set of collated sheets at its estreme right, is shifted upon the stripper plates |82 extending vfrom thev delivery table 85, and said set of sheets comes between the stationary fingers |l and their related gripping fingers |05, which Sets., 0f. lingers are 0n, the Carriage |03: all gripper fingers extending laterally from a shaft ,1.8.5, which is Oscillatably. mounted through the end plates of said carriage. An arm |98, extending. laterally from said shaft |85, is adapted to be intercepted near the limits of travel of the carriage |09, by the adjustable fixed stops |81 and |88 (see Fig. l), to` turn shaft |85 (see Figs. 17 and i8) so that blocks |89 and |90 are shifted bevond deadfcgnter alignment; block |89 beine carried on said shaft, and block |90 being pivotally mounted at |9l to an end plate |88; a pair of such, associated bloclis being provided on each Steh en@ plate if desired Each 0f 'Said blocks are provided with ay socket to house the ends of a freely suspended compression coil spring |92; one such spring for each pair of associated blocks |89 and 90. Adjustably positioned screws |93 and |94, act as stops to control extent of block movement.

The sheet jogging device |01 (-see Figs. 1, 2 and 19), is mounted around an opening |98 in table |95, above the platform |08, A pair of spaced parallel reeks' |911: and, |98 are part '0I a frame |99, which is slidably mounted on a bracket 200. Another pair of spaced parallel racks 20| and 20,2, are part of a frame 203, which is slidably mounted on al bracket 204; all rack teeth being positioned vertical. The teleth of rack |91, face and are spaced fromk those of raclg 20|, also, the teeth of racl; |98, face and are spaced from those of rack 202. A wide faced gear 205, rotatably mounted on fixed vertical stud 2.06, is positioned between and engages the racks '|91 and 20|. Another wide faced gear 201, rotatably mounted on fixed stud 208, is positioned betweenl and engages the racks |98 and 202. The movement of all the racks is alongv the lengthA of the machine. Frame |99 carries plate |45 between the racks on said frame. Frame 203 carries plate l|41 between the racks saidframe has. 'Plates |45 and |41 are positioned so that their opposed faces yare vertical and parallel. The aligned racks 209 and 2|9, mounted for slidable movement on the brackets 220 vand 22|, along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement'of the other racksV of said jogging device, respecv tively engage the gears 205 and 201, and lie above the"other"racks,V 'I-hemracllz 209 carries plate |44, and rack 219 carries'plate |46, so that the opposed faces ofsaid plates 'are vertical and parallel',`V but perpendicular tothe opposed faces of the'joger plates '|45 and |41. n is to be noted that the limit of inward movement of opposed jogger plates shall determine the sides of the nal pile on platform |08. Each of the jogger plates is provided with a slotted arm and associated fastening screw so that their initial position may beadjusted on their respective carrying members, as is indicated by the numerals 2| 0 and 2| to represent one such slot and retaining screw, respectively.

Also, ifdesired, the inward faces of the respective jogger plates may be provided with nozzle openings 2|2 of passages communicating to receive. an air supply through the respective hose' lines 2|3. A crank 2| i on shaft carrying the gear 2|5 by means of a connecting rod Ri, is adapted to impart a reciprocatory motion to the'fram'e |99, whereby gears 295 and 291 will be oscillated about their respective axes, and

hence all the jogge'r plates |54, |45, |45 and |41, will have a reciprocatory movement. The gear 2|5, (see Fig. 1) through gear boX or other suitable gearing system indicated as 2|?, is driven `from shaft 2|8, which in turn is driven by motor 225; During operation of the machine, platform having the final pile thereon, (see Fig. 1) is slowly lowered. Electric motor 225 is provided with control means (not shown) adapted for ne speed adjustment. A shaft 225, carries a pair of pulleys 22?, in the belt groove of each of which is secured an end of a suitable cable 222; the other ends of said cables, being respectively 'secured at opposite points as 223. Each of these cables, passes under and supports a pair of platform pulleys |29. When shaft 226 revolves so that cables 222 are unwound from o the pulleys 22?, the platform |58 will be lowered. 1For a driving connection, (see Fig. 19) shaft 222 carries a wheel 228 which is in engagement with a worm 22S on shaft 2|8. Also, said shaft 224| carries a wide faced spur gear 235 in engagement with a gear 23| on shaft 225. This shaft 222|, is slidably mounted through a bracket 232 ixed to the frame of the machine, and is maintained so positioned by coil spring 23S thereon between bracket 232 and handwheel 234 on said shaft, whereby worm 229 and wheel 22S are in engagement. When said handwheel carried on the slidably mounted shaft 225, is pushed inward causing disengagement of wheel 223 from the worm 229, and then said handwheel 234 is manually turned, the platform |25 is raised. Release of said handwheel, eects re-engagement of said worm and wheel. Y

For operation, as to each bin, (see Fig. 3) the bin platform 32, is lowered by manually pushing the related handwheel 45, inward, so that worm fill and wheel 38 are in engagement. AThe said handwheel l5 is now manually rotated in 'proper direction to lower the platform 32 until it rests on the stops or cross pieces 4|.

Considering a set to consist of six collated sheets, as an example of desired machine performance, then onto the respective bin platforms `52, shall be placed piles of identical sheets respectively, in the following relation. Onto the platform 32 which is at the eXtreme left of the machine in Fig. 1, is placed a pile of sheets which 'are to constitute the sheets which respectively are the bottom sheet of the sets formed. Onto Ithe bin platform 32 which is second from the left, is placed a pile of sheets, which respectively are to be the sheet positioned in the respective sets, immediately atop the -bottom sheet. Onto the bin platforms 32 respectively, third, fourth, ith and sixth from the left, are placed piles of sheets, which respectively are to be in like relation in the respective sets to be formed counted from the bottom of the set. Of course, valve means 55'? is not included in this set up; the air piping system being as shown in Fig. 10, with all valves |32, E35, |36 and |3l set by hand to open condition. The paper piles on the bin platforms 32 are respectively positioned to contact the plate il and the associated side guide bar |29; all sheets of the piles respectively being in register. g

Each bin platform 32 (see Fig. S) carrying a pile of sheets thereon, is now manually raised, by pushing the related handwheel inward as before, but turning same in reverse direction, until (see Fig. ll) the'top sheet of each pile contacts its related feeler arm l, and then a little more Asonthat said feele'r arm be a bit off dead center vertical, and the top of the pile be below proper bin paper level. The switch '15', referring to the circuit shown in Fig. 6, is closed, so that the automatic platform raising apparatus shown in Fig. 5, shall operate as to each of the bins, whereby the respective bin pile platforms 32 shall be automatically raised until the respective bin paper piles reach proper bin paper level.

Next, the final pile receiving platform |28 (see Fig. i) is properly positioned to ride on cables 222 and within vertical track means (not shown), and raised (see Fig. 19) by pulling handwheel 231i outward and turning said handwheel in proper direction, until platform |53 is slightly below the jogger plates of device lill. The handwheel is now let go, whereupon wheel 22S and worm 229 come into engagement. Motor 225 (see Fig. 1) is let run, to accomplish slow descending of the platform |58, and the short range reciprocation of the respective jcgger plates Il, |25, |155 and |41.

Now consider machine condition, where all the rams 53 are out of their related air cylinders 5D, whereby all sucker cups 55 of the several sheet transporting means 2S, are in their most forward position over the delivery belt 55. At this time, racl; ram 8l is innermost Within its cylinder S5, and in engagement with gear 99, because jack |25 is operated whereby its head |52 has accomplished and maintains such engagement. Ram 83 is outermost of its air cylinder 84|, at which time, cam "d8 permits the lowest position of cylinders 5|). Carriage |03, because ram ||2 is now outward of its air cylinder |59, is positioned substantially to the right of the jogging device f?, with lingers |55 and |55 in open relation. Also at this time, the timing mechanism is so arranged that valve |52, permits no sucking action at the sucker cups 55.

With the entire machine now in working order and in operation, and the timing device control-- ling solenoid valve operation in proper timed relation, so that now the respective air cylinders be.I operated, whereby the sheet transporting devices. t8 travel into the bins, valve |52 is operated to create sucking action at the cups 55, whereby the: respective top sheets from off the bin piles are.y attracted thereto; operation of cani shaft 'l being so timed as to properly raise and lower thef sucker cups 55. During motion of the transport-- ing devices towards and into the respective bins rack ram 8l travels outward of its air cylinder 85,. causing the top of the delivery belt 56 to be; shifted one bin position to the right, and opera-- tion of air cylinder |59, causes movement of carriage |53 to the left and the closing of the fingers |65 and |96, to grpbetween them any sheets transported from off said belt onto the stripper fingers or plates |82; such gripped sheets to be released upon movement of carriage to the right, and let fall between the jogger plates of the device m?, to be aligned and form a pile atop platform |08.

Now, during movement of the sheet transporting devices d8 outward over the delivery belt 55 (see Fig. 3) the sheets held by the sucker cups 55 will be carried atop the said belt 55, and held down thereon due to the air issuing from the no..- zles |53 of the overhead pipe |53. In the meantime, the cylinder 85 has been operated to turn the cam shafts l9 and 80 in reverse direction, permitting and causing the properly timed liftingand lowering of the sucker cups 55. When the top sheet is lifted off the bin sheet pile, any

lower sheet adhering thereto, is stripped therefrom due to fluttering at the sheet edges caused by air jets at l and tripping action at stripper spring fingers 11.

As soon as the sheets are on belt 516, with the respective transporting means in outermost position, sucking action at the sucker cups 55 is made to cease by control of valve |52 by the timing means |54, whereby such transported sheets are freed of the sucker cups and their forward ends let fall. With repetition of the cycle which includes a shifting of the delivery belt 56 one bin position to the right, it is evident that piles are progressively formed with full set of collated sheets completed at the remote right bin position, for reception upon the next shifting of the delivery belt by the fingers m5 and it on carriage |33, for transportation through the jogging device and onto the nal pile on platform |08.

During movement of the sheets from the several bins onto the delivery belt air is cut off from the jack It@ (see Fig. 1), :causing its head |92 to fall, and thereby cylinder 8f3 will swing downwardly resting atop said head, whereby rack 8l becomes disengaged from gear 99 and retracted into its air cylinder Sii, which is operated to do so during the forward stroke of the sheet transporting devices 48.

lt is evident that the rst ve piles received by the carriage and deposited onto the platform |28, are incomplete sets, but that the sixth and all subsequent piles received by the carriage from olf the delivery belt 55, are respectively sets of properly collated sets. Hence the bottom I5 sheets on the iinal pile are discarded. This is necessary only at initial set ups of the machine. It may be necessary that at initial set ups, the top sheet of the second bin pile, the uppermost two sheets of the third bin pile, the uppermost three sheets of the fourth bin pile, the uppermost four sheets of the iifth bin pile and the uppermost five sheets of the sixth bin pile, shall be blanks, if sets'are numbered.

If it is desired that between a predetermined number of sets of collated sheets on the iinal pile on platform H38, there should always he a cardboard, or backing sheet of other suitable material, the nrst bin to the left used in any operation of the machine, shall be for housing a pile of cardboard sheets to be transported one at a time as is determined by operation of a valve means I5? (see Fig. l1) interposed to control the rear port of the air cylinder used for the operation of the transporting means 43 associated with the bin storing said cardboard pile. The rod |13 may be graduated as at 2535, to indicate the frequency of a cardboard ejection, in relation to the number of sets of collated sheets .formed on the delivery belt 56; such graduations serving for the proper locating of the position of collar on said rod The machine of course may be used to form sets of collated sheets; each set consisting of less than the greatest capacity of the machine, that is, such sets may be comprised of either two, three, four or iive sheets each, and said sheets may be of different character as to material, as for instance, writing paper, tissue paper, carbon paper, cardboard or other suitable material in sheets capable of being carried by the sucker cups 55. The manner of operation of less than all the bin sheet transporting devices [58, by proper setting of the hand valves |34, |35, |36

and |37 (see Fig. 10), is app-arent and easily varied. Also, depending upon the nature of the sheets to be dealt with, the sucking power of the respective cups 55 may be controlled by the hand set valves 231 which may be interposed in the pipe connections |49.

Should it be ,desired to have a machine for collating sheets into sets, each of which comprise so kmany sheets that it would be impractical to have the machine with all its bins in tandem or otherwise in side-to-side relation, it is advisable as shown in Fig. 2l, to provide the bin structure with a pair of sheet pile platforms 238 and 239, one over the other in spaced relation, and with a pair of sheet transporting means indicated generally by the numerals 24e and 2li-i respectively akin to 48 shown in Fig. 3, having the respective sucker cups 242 and 244. The upper sheet transporting means 24|] is carried on the ram 2'35 of air cylinder 245, while the lower sheet transporting means 24| is the terminus at the bottom of a lazy tongs 241. Also carried on the forward end of the ram 245 is a vertically positioned air cylinder `248, whose ram 249 is connected to the lazy tongs 241 at 250 which is the pivotal connection of the upper pair of links of said lazy tongs. The upper end of one of these links is pivotally secured to the bracket 25! at point 252, while the upper end 0f the second of said links is horizontally slidably mounted on said bracket along a slot or track 253. Each of the platforms 238 and 23 are provided on their underside with 'the apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to a bin platform 32, to independently control the movement of said bin platforms 238 and 239, along a single set of screw shafts not shown, which are akin to 33, as can be well understood in View of explanation hereinabove set forth. The air cylinder 245 is pvotally mounted at 254 and controlled by a cam 255 on the cam shaft, as previously indicated with respect to 'i3 and '19. Clearance space 25B need be provided between the bin structure and the delivery beit here shown as 257|, to accommodate inclusion oi' additional structure which includes the lazy tongs 24'i and the sheet transporting means 24 I.

Although not shown, it is well understood that the operation of the double acting air cylinder 243, is controlled by a solenoid operated valve of the type herein described, timed for operation by a cam included on shaft |55 and accompanying switch apparatus in the circuit of its solenoid.

For operation, timingis so accomplished that during movement of ram 245 into air cylinder 246, at the instant the lazy tongs 24? and all it carries is free for movement downward into the clearance space 255, the air cylinder 243 is operated whereby its ram 249 is pushed downward, whereby the lazy tongs 241 will expand downward thus lowering the sheet transporting means 24| with respect to the lower bin platform 239, as the upper sheet transporting means 24% is to the upper bin platform 238. Now cam 255 operates to effect entrance and thereafter withdrawal of the sheet transporting means 246 and 24| of the bin structure, during which the sucker cups 242 will have attached to themselves by suction, the top sheet on the sheet pile atop bin platform 238, and the sucker cups 24d will have attached to themselves by suction, the top sheet on the pile atop bin platform 239. Once all the sucker cups are again in the clearance space 255, the air cylinder 248 is operated that its ram 249 move upward, whereupon the lazy tongs 24T will collapse, and the two sheets being transported will be carried Vstructure shown in Fig. 21, and as any collating job may require, selected lower platforms 239 may have no paper pile thereon, all in accordance with requirements the machine may be called upon to perform.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, and particularly referring to Fig. 3, the lifting and lowering of the sheet transporting means i8 during the latters entrance and withdrawing from the bin, is eiected by the action of cam 18 and as explained by rocking the air cylinder 50 during movement of its ram 53. lThe same action may be accomplished by the modified embodiment illustrated in Fig. 22 and Fig. 23. Here air cylinder 258, akin to 56, is pivotally mounted at 259, and its ram 263 carries a structure indicated generally by the numeral 26|, which carries the gear wheels 262 which ride along and in engagement with the racks 263 positioned over and across the delivery belt 264. Said structure carries a plurality of sheet conveying means 265, akin to G8; said racks 263 being pivotally mounted at 266 to the uprights 261. The other ends of said racks rest on cams 263 on a cam shaft 269, akin to 18 and 79, which cam shaft is operated as in Fig. l.

It is evident that as said racks 263 are rocked by the cams 268, so will the sheet transporting means 265 be raised or lowered; all components being so dimensioned as to acomplish the required scope of movement for proper transportation of sheets from the bins onto the delivery belt 264.

Proper guide and supporting rails or other suitable structure should be included where necessary for moving parts having a comparatively long range movement. Such however are well known in empirical mechanical design and have been omitted in the drawings for the sake of clarity of illustration of the pertinent mechanism.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to' the specinc description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. In a collating machine, a plurality of platforms in side by side relation, each adapted to support an individual pile of paper sheets thereon, a conveyor means constantly presenting a sheet-receiving surface in front of all the platforms, means for transferring the top sheet of each of the respective piles onto the sheet-receiving surface of the conveyor means in equi-spaced relation, means for intermittently moving said sheet-receiving surface of the conveyor means in one direction, from the center line of one of the sheet positions thereon to the then center line of the adjacent sheet position thereon; the movement of said sheet-receiving surface of the conveyor means occurring after each time a sheet from all of the respective piles are deposited thereon; said moving means including a revolvably mounted shaft adapted upon rotation thereof to move said sheet-receiving surface of the conveyor means, a gear carried on said Shaft, a irst air cylinder means having a slidable piston therein and a port at each end thereof, a piston rod extending from said piston outwardly of said rst air cylinder, said rst air cylinder being' moveably mounted, a rack carried on said piston rod; the rack'being in engagement with said gear, a first valve means for directing compressed air into said ports alternately, means to move said first air cylinder to a position whereby the rack is out of engagement with said gear; such means comprising a second air cylinder having a slidable piston means therein, a member extending from the piston means in the second air cylinder outwardly of said second air cylinder, adapted upon movement of the piston means within the second air cylinder in one direction, to shift the rack into engagement with said gear, and upon movement thereof in opposite direction, to move said rack out of engagement with the gear, a second valve means to control the operation ork the second air cylinder and means to operate both valve means and the top-sheet transferring means, in predetermined timed relation.

2. In a collating machine, a plurality of platforms in tandem relation, each adapted to support an individual pile of paper sheets thereon -whereby such piles shall be in equi-spaced relation, an endless belt positioned in front of all the platforms, a pair of spaced pulleys in substantially horizontal position; thebelt being mounted on said pulleys, a plurality of suction devices for transferring the top sheet of each of the respective piles onto said belt in equi-spaced positions thereon,.means for intermittently moving said belt over the pulleys in one direction, from the center' lines or" one of the sheet positions thereon to the then center line of the adjacent sheet position thereon; said means including a revolvably mounted shaft, adapted upon rotation thereof to move said belt over the pulleys, a gear oarried on said shaft, a rst air cylinder means having a slidable piston therein and a port at each end thereof, a piston rod extending from said piston outwardly of said rst air cylinder; said first air cylinder being moi/ably mounted, a rack carried on said piston rod; the rack being in engagement with said gear, a rst valve means tor directing compressed air into said ports alternately, means to move said first air cylinder to a position whereby the rack is out of engagement with said gear; such means comprising a second air cylinder having a slidable piston therein; a member extending from the'piston in said second air cylinder outwardly from said cylinder, adapted upon movement of the piston within the second air cylinder in one direction, to shift the rack into engagement with the gear, and upon movement thereof in the opposite direction, to move said rack out of engagement with said gear, a second valve means to control the operation of the second air cylinder and means to operate the sheet transferring devices and both said yvalve means in predetermined timed relation.

3. In a collating machine, a plurality of pla*- forms in side by side relation, an additional platform positioned with respect to one of the other platforms whereby such pair of platforms are one above the other; each of the platforms being adapted to support an individual pile of paper Sheets thereon, a conveyor means constantly presenting a sheet-receiving surface in iront of all the platforms, means for intermittently moving said sheet-receiving surface of the conveyor means in one direction, from the center line of one ci the sheet positions thereon to the then 

